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When it is Good to Suffer
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1 Peter 3:17 It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong. Yes, it is better if that is what God wants.
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Download audio fileSuffering is a theme that I love to return to again and again, both in my learning and development and in yours. Because it’s in that place of suffering that we have the greatest opportunity that God will ever hand us.
Any athlete will tell you that they suffer a lot when they’re training. It hurts to build muscle. It hurts to grow endurance. But for them, it’s suffering with a purpose. It’s suffering in order to become better, faster, smarter, more skilled at their sport. That’s why they suffer.
And the same is true in our lives as well. We know that those difficult times are the times of greatest opportunity for God to mould our character; to teach us how to rely on Him; to knock off our rough edges so that we’ll look more and more like Jesus.
But – there had to be a ‘but’, right? – all too often suffering involves injustice and that injustice causes our pride to rise up. That injustice gives us a bad attitude and that, right there, tends to block any benefits that God may have worked in our character through our suffering. Pride always blocks the good things of God, amen?!
So, if that tends to happen in your life, then listen up:
1 Peter 3:17 It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong. Yes, it is better if that is what God wants.
Peter wrote those words to Christians who were suffering terribly and unjustly for their faith in Jesus. If God brings a season of suffering on you, if that’s what He wants, suffer gladly. Suffer with a good heart and a good attitude, no matter how unjust it feels … because God is up to something good.
That’s His Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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